Barriers to implementing urban plans in Kenya

Despite a long history of urban planning, Kenyan towns are still characterized by informality, uncoordinated development, urban sprawl, and congestion. Government documents and reports acknowledge that, despite planning, no deliberate effort has been made to implement plans. Little is known about what impedes plan implementation in Kenya. This study sought to develop an in-depth understanding of the barriers to plan implementation from the perspectives of public officials responsible for planning. Using path dependency theory, forwarded by Pierson, and force field analysis, advanced by Lewin, the research questions focused on legal and institutional development, as well as on the nature of relationships between different actors as possible sources of hindrances to plan implementation. Data for this qualitative study accrued through reviews of documents relating to urban planning and interviews with officials in different categories, with a focus on three case cities: Nairobi, Nakuru, and Eldoret. A total of 14 participants, 10 from the city level, included county legislators; 4 from the national government level were interviewed. The data obtained were analyzed qualitatively using multiple-level coding and direct interpretation to create themes. The themes that emerged included politics and vested interests, financial, legal regime, institutional setup, land tenure, and quality of the plans. Study findings may be useful in informing planning authorities on how to restructure the preparation and implementation of urban plans

Refugees a threat to national security: case study Kenya

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Bachelor of law of Strathmore University.The main aim of this research is to investigate whether refugees pose a threat to the national security of Kenya. The objects of the study were: to investigate whether refugees portend any security threats in Kenya, to establish for policy recommendation whether screening measures currently in place are able to separate criminals that do not deserve international protection at Kenyan borders, airports and sea entry points and to determine whether drastic government measures to deter hosting of criminal elements among refugees has had any consequences on genuine refugees. The target population of the research consisted of: refugees, government officials and host communities. This study employed secondary data, with data retrieved from various databases such as Hein Online, JSTOR and Lex is Nexis. Analysis of the media reports and statutes on refugees and national security in Kenya was also used. The study recommends that Kenya has an obligation of providing security to its citizens and also to protect the physical security of refugees living in its camps. There is therefore the need to strike a balance between obeying international obligations and that of protecting national interests

The Quality of Kiserian Slaughterhouses\u27 Effluent and Its Implication on Kiserian Dam Water in Kajiado County, Kenya

Purpose: Wastewater from abattoirs, municipal, agricultural and industrial effluents is a major source of environmental pollution as they consume large amounts of fresh water for meat processing and hygienic purposes. The main objective of the study was to assess the quality of the effluent from Keekonyokie and Kiserian slaughterhouses and its effect on the quality of water in Kiserian dam. Methodology: The parameters measured were pH, total suspended solids, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, dissolved oxygen and fecal coliforms (E. coli). Samples were collected from 4 sampling sites three times a week for three months. SPSS (ANOVA) for their significant differences. One-sample t-test used to compare the parameter means with NEMA 2006 standards. Pearson Correlation used for correlation among the parameters. Findings: The mean fecal coliforms 2215.206 mg/l, Phosphorous 47.379 mg/l, Nitrates 36.71 mg/l, TSS 387.57 mg/l which were above the standards of NEMA 2006 of nil, 2, 2 and 30 mg/l respectively while DO was 8.58 mg/l and pH 6.86-7.0 both of which were below the NEMA 2006 standards of 30 mg/l and 6.5-8.5. The results of all parameters were significantly different among the sites (p=0.00). There was significant difference between the parameters and the NEMA 2006. ANOVA results on parameters showed the all coliforms increased with increase in rainfall with the highest levels in September with a mean 18662.7 mg/l and in July with the lowest of 12962.5 mg/l. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study can be used by slaughterhouses developers and management on slaughterhouse wastewater treatment. To be used by slaughterhouses licensing authorities on SWW requirements before licensing. To be used by Public Health Department for disease surveillances and Water Regulatory Management Authority on domestic water treatment

Managerial Ownership, Audit Committee Effectiveness and Real Earnings Management: Evidence from Non-Financial Companies Listed in the Nairobi Securities Exchange.

Real earnings management has gained attention due to financial fraud stemming from distorted reporting and misrepresentation of firm value. Opportunistic managers may exploit reporting to enhance personal gain, making detection challenging as it involves legitimate operational decisions, like changing production or discretionary spending, which can mislead shareholders and hinder firm growth. To better understand and address this important issue, the study set out to investigate the mediating effect of audit committee effectiveness (ACE) on the relationship between managerial ownership structure (OS) and real earnings management (REM). The study's specific objectives were to determine the effect of managerial ownership structure and real earnings management, besides the mediating role of audit committee effectiveness on the link between managerial ownership structure and real earnings management. The study was guided by stakeholders’ theory and it employed an explanatory research design alongside a panel data approach to survey non-financial firms listed on the NSE that met the set inclusion criteria. The research population included 40 listed non-financial firms, with the focus narrowed to 26 firms that operated continuously between 2008 and 2023, resulting in a total of 416 firm-year observations. Secondary data extracted from financial reports were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Audit committee effectiveness was found to mediate the relationship between managerial ownership and real earnings management. The study results specifically indicate a positive and significant effect of managerial ownership on real earnings management (β= 0.781, p<0.05), and audit committee effectiveness partially mediates the relationship between managerial ownership and real earnings management (β= -0.365, p<0.05). The study finds that managerial ownership structure is associated with increased real earnings management. While audit committee effectiveness partially mediates the relationship between managerial ownership and real earnings management. These findings align with stakeholder theory, highlighting the critical role of ownership structure and governance mechanisms in enhancing financial reporting quality. Keywords: Managerial Ownership, Real earnings management, Audit committee effectiveness DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/16-5-01 Publication date: June 30th 202

Influence of Agroforestry on Rural Income and Livelihood of Smallholder Farmers in the Semi Arid Region of Sub Saharan Africa

Semi arid lands typically suffer from sustainable land use challenges including climate variability, declining agricultural productivity, low economic prowess and poor livelihood conditions. In order to sustainably address these challenges, agroforestry has been fronted as a critical entry point allowing for the integration of trees on farms and diversification of production in agricultural landscapes. Nevertheless, the contribution of agroforestry to socio-economic and rural livelihood in several developing countries remains debatable. This study determined the influence of agroforestry on rural income and livelihood of smallholder farmers in Machakos County (Kenya). The study was conducted using stratified, random sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires and interviews. Results showed that agroforestry was adopted by 82% of the respondents as a strategy for livelihood improvement in the region. Total income was higher among adopters from timber, fuel wood, posts/poles and fodder. Adopters also had more money to spend on food, clothing, education, medicine and basic needs as a result of revenues from agroforestry. The overall gross revenue, net returns above variable costs and total costs were also higher among adopters compared to the non adopters due to sales of agroforestry products. The study recommends adoption of agroforestry as a strategy to boost rural income and livelihood.Keywords: Agroforestry, Socio-economic, Rural income, Livelihood, Machakos, Sub Saharan Afric

Trade-Off Between Agroforestry and Ecosystem Services among Smallholder Farmers in Machakos County, Kenya

Agroforestry provides multiple ecosystem services. The understanding of the relationships between it and the ecosystem services can help to minimize undesired trade-offs. The aim of this study was to determine the trade-offs between agroforestry and ecosystem services among smallholder farmers in Machakos County, Kenya. This study demonstrated that smallholder farmers who had adopted agroforestry in the semi-arid areas of Machakos County achieved several ecosystem services from the practice. Ecosystem services supporting functions included nutrient recycling and soil formation which were the most important. These were followed by regulatory functions (soil erosion control, water infiltration, microclimate regulation, flood control and disease/pest control). Provision of ecosystem services such as fuelwood, fruit, nuts, poles, timber and fodder was the third most important function as perceived by the local community members while the least was cultural functions that are rarely performed within the agroforestry ecosystems. Given the low knowledge of the entire range of agroforestry ecosystem services in the area, there should be concerted effort to educate the local community members about the wide range of ecosystem services to maximize the exploitation of these services from agroforestry

Intent to destroy an ethnic group: a failed promise of in Dubio Pro Reo?

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Bachelor of Laws Degree, Strathmore University Law School" ... the crime of genocide is singled out for special condemnation and opprobrium. The crime is horrific in its scope; its perpetrators identify entire human groups for extinction. Those who devise and implement genocide seek to deprive humanity of the manifold richness its nationalities, races, ethnicities and religions provide. This is a crime against all of humankind, its harm being felt not only by the group targeted for destruction, but by all of humanity ... "2 The year 1948 brought with it the Convention on the Prevention on Punishment of the crime of Genocide (hereinafter the Convention), the first form of codification of law with regards to the crime of genocide.3 Subsequent statutes like the Rome Statute4, the ICTR statute5 and the ICTY statute 6 borrow the language put down in the Convention verbatim. Naturally, one would conclude that the considerations and conclusions of the drafters of the Genocide Convention were indeed the most universally accepted such that subsequent drafters adopted their language almost entirely.

Determining the Optimal Portfolio Size on the Nairobi Securities Exchange

There is consensus that diversification results in risk reduction. However there is no consensus on the number of securities required for maximum risk diversification. Studies done on different capital markets have yielded differing results. This study aimed at determining the optimal portfolio size for investors on the Nairobi Securities Exchange in Kenya. The study used mean variance optimization model and secondary data consisting of monthly security returns over a five year period from January 2009 to December 2013. Forty three of the sixty listed firms had complete information on monthly security returns and were used in the study. Portfolios of different sizes were formed by random selection of securities and the portfolio risk was computed. The study found that portfolio risk reduced as the number of securities in the portfolio increased but beyond the optimal portfolio size the risk started rising again. The optimal portfolio size in the Nairobi Securities Exchange was found to lie between 18 and 22 securities